For Anthony Pedro, PGA HOPE CNY is a golf program with a purpose.

 

The U.S. Army veteran was among the competitors at the fourth annual PGA HOPE CNY Pro-Am on May 26 at Bellevue Country Club. The event honors U.S. active and military veterans while raising funds for the PGA HOPE programs in Central New York.

 

In a post-tournament speech, Pedro expressed the importance of PGA HOPE in his life and the lives of other veterans.

 

 

“As I transitioned out of the Army, I was in a bad place for a while trying to figure out life. Then I got into PGA HOPE,” said Pedro, a PGA HOPE graduate. “My motto is three words: Peace, Joy and Purpose. If you find your joy in life, then you’ll find your purpose. Now my purpose is serving veterans. PGA HOPE is a way to do that.”

 

Veterans were the primary focus during the Pro-Am tourney as 32 teams participated. Many foursomes had a veteran on their team including this year’s overall winners.

Central New York PGA Team Plis finished first with a 15-under-par 56 playing an 18-hole Captain and Crew format. Team members were Nick Bove, PGA of America Member Dylan Plis, Dan Michaels and Navy veteran Casey Ware. First-place trophies were provided by tournament partner Sterling Cut Glass.

 

FINAL RESULTS

 

 

For the second straight year, IBEW Local 43/NECA Finger Lakes Chapter served as the presenting partner of the PGA HOPE CNY Pro-Am.

 

Sunset Ridge, led by Andy Myers, PGA, came in second at 13-under 58. Other team members were Stephen Hall, PGA, Ben Glass and Jimmy King.

 

In the Veteran Division (for the low team score with a veteran team member), Team Zorn took first place with a 62 by virtue of a tiebreaker with another team that shot same score. Team members were: PGA REACH CNY Foundation Coordinator Don Zorn, Will Weimer, PGA, Chris Cook and Greg Cohen.

 

The tournament began with an opening prayer and the national anthem. There also was a military gun salute by veterans in combat uniforms. Each participant received a PGA HOPE sign provided by partner Signs by the Sea and PGA

HOPE golf balls from Srixon.

 

On the first tee, players were handed a Challenge Coin, a military symbol of achievement and appreciation, by PGA HOPE Ambassador and Army veteran Eric Schuster. The coin was designed by PGA REACH CNY Executive Director, Joe Tesori, PGA.

 

 

A post-tournament reception was held on the Bellevue CC patio. Tesori recognized the Pro-Am tournament partners/sponsors and introduced Pedro to speak.

 

Pedro, the president of Southern Tier Veterans Support Group Inc., is training to become a PGA HOPE Ambassador.

 

“PGA HOPE kickstarts what I’m doing in my network in the Southern Tier to bring veterans out of their houses and get the camaraderie golf and PGA HOPE offers,” Pedro said.

 

All dollars raised at this event will go to PGA HOPE CNY programs and post-programming opportunities for our local veteran community.

 

There were other prizes and raffles throughout the day. They included:

*Closest to the pin winners:

No. 3 Men: Peter Marthia; Women: Barb Nacewicz

No. 7 Men: Sean Lavin; Women: Kathy Garbo

No. 15 Stephen Hall

Winners received a dozen golf balls from tournament partner Taylor Made.

 

* Romano Cars sponsored a $1,000 hole-in one contest on No. 13 with no winner.

 

*Longest drive contest was sponsored by Gastroenterology & Hepatology of CNY. The winners were:

No. 1 Women: Lilly Gorman; Men: Jimmy King

No. 16 Women: Barb Nacewicz; Men: Andy Bobrek

 

*Corbin Fouguet won the putting contest and a $500 certificate for merchandise from partner Travis Mathew.

 

The PGA HOPE CNY Pro-Am would like to express its gratitude to the members and staff at Bellevue, including General Manager Mike Kyle, Heather Shirtz, Assistant GM – Banquets and Catering, and Head Professional Dan Steinsdoerfer, PGA.

 

Also many thanks to NewsChannel 9 and Sports Director Steve Infanti.